Toy firearm



Oct. 27,1936. R. ToMlTA ET AL A2,059,052

TOY FIREARM Filed Deo. 18, 1935 I 2 Sheets-*Sheet 1 A Harney: y

Oct. 27, 1936. R, ToMrrA ET AL TOY FIREARM Filed Deo. 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvenlors NN QN Q/mx Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE TGY FIREARM Application December 18, 1935, Serial No. 55,108

2 Claims.

This invention relates to toy firearms of that character which uses a rubber band as a projectile.

One of the principal features of the invention is a novel construction that permits a single trigger bar to be utilized for a band gripping portion and a nger gripping portion.

Another feature of the present invention is the design of the band gripping portion of the trigger bar which has a compound curvature to hold two or more projectile bands in position to be selectively released at different positions of the trigger bar.

Further objectsof the invention are to provide a toy of the character referred to that is strong,

compact, durable, very entertaining to the chil' dren, that is thoroughly efficient for its intended purpose and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as Will be hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings Aand specification, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference charactors denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the toy firearm constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing a pair of rubber bands in position to be projected thereby.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary portion thereof taken substantially on the plane of line 4--4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed vertical section taken through the plane of the trigger bar slot and showing the trigger bar in cocked relation.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 showin the trigger bar in position for releasing both bands.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the trigger bar removed from the body of the firearm.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be understood that the body of the toy rearm is to be made to simulate a pistol or rifle. The body of the firearm is preferably made in one piece out of wood or other material and consists of a barrel portion I0 which at its rear end merges with a depending stock or handle portion i i. In the body of the firearm illustrated I have simulated the design of a conventional automatic pistol, but it will be understood that the principle of the invention may be applied to other pistols and riiies.

Forwardly of the point where the barrel I 0 merges with the handle li there is formed a slot B which extends vertically through the barrel. From a point in the middle of the slot the forward wall thereof inclines forwardly and outwardly as shown respectively at i2 and i3. The rear wall of the slot B beginning at a point in the middle of the slot also inclines outwardly and rearwardly as indicated respectively at I4, I5. The angular inclination of the forward and rear walls of the slot cooperates with the trigger bar to retain it in cocked relation in one position and band releasing position in the other position. The former and latter positions are clearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.

There is a pin i5a mounted in the rear portion of the barrel i0 having the intermediate portion spanning the slot B. The middle of a flat trigger bar C rocks on the pin i5a within the slot B. The trigger bar C has a finger gripping portion i6 extending below the lower extremity cf the slot whereupon the finger of the operator rocks the trigger on the pin l5a. The trigger bar Cgalso has a portion l'l projecting above the barrel l0 and free of the slot B and this portion il is utilized to grip the rear ends of two elastic bands I8, I9. The rear edge of band gripping portion ll has two segmental notches 20, 2| merging with each other at a rib 22. A tangent to the segments is located in a position at an angle to the barrel I0.

The rear portion of the barrel Hl has an extension 23 depending therefrom and in this eX- tension is a bore 2li. The forward end of the bore opens at the forward end of the extension 23, and the rear end thereof registers with the lower portion of the slot B. In the forward end of the bore .2d there is a pin 25 fixed in the walls of the bore. An eye 26 on the forward end of a helical coil spring 21 secures one end of the spring to the pin 25. The body of the spring is mounted in the intermediate portion of the bore 2li. The rear end of the spring 2l is bent as at 28 in embracing relation about the lower portion of the trigger bar C and this portion seats in a groove 29 provided for this purpose. The tension of the coil spring 2l is such that it normally holds the trigger bar C in the position shown in Figure 5 notwithstanding the bands when mounted on the body exert a pressure in the opposite direction.

The forward end of the barrel I 0 has a segmental shaped depression or recess 29 therein which aids to retain the forward end of the bands I8, I9 in position. The opposite sides of the barrel I0 have a slight taper inwardly and forwardly from the slot C which permits the bands to be projected with reasonable accuracy. The forward and rear edges indicated respectively at 30, 3| of the trigger bar C are straight.

In using the toy rearm to project rubber bands it will be understood that the length of the barrel I9 from the handle II should be chosen so that the resultant tension of the bands I8, I9 will not be strong enough to overcome the tension of the spring 23 because it is the purpose of this invention to have the spring nor-v mally retain the trigger bar in cocked relation. The intermediate portion of a pair of bands, I8, I9 embrace the intermediate portion of the barrel and the ends of the bands t over the recess 29 in the forward end of the barrel. The rear end of the bands t in the rear edge of the trigger bar which is of compound curvature. The upper band I9 ts in the segmental notch 29, while the lower band I8 ts in the notch 2I. Partial movement of the trigger will rst release the upper band I 9. Then further movement will release the lower band I8. If it is the desire to release both bands I8, I9 simultaneously then the trigger bar is rocked to the forward position shown in Figure 6 in the drawings without pause. As a means to further enhance the appearance to simulate a firearm I mount a trigger guard 32 in the angle between the extension 23 and the handle II. The trigger guard 32 surrounds the projecting nger grip I6.

Having described the claimed is:

1. A toy rearm for shooting rubber bands formed of a body portion including a barrel, a handle depending from the rear end of the barrel, and a bored extension under an intermediate portion of the barrel; said barrel formed with a slot registering with one end of the bore in the extension, a trigger bar pivoted to oscillate on invention, what is gaseosa a xed axis in the slot and having portions ex tending above and below the barrel to form respectively a projectile band gripping portion and finger gripping portion, a spring having one end xed in the bore and connected to the trigger bar at the other end to normally retain the trig ger bar under continual tension in one direction in opposition to the tension of the bands, the muzzle of the barrel being provided with a recess to hold the outer end of a rubber band embracing the sides of the barrel with the inner end of the rubber band engaged with the band gripping portion of the trigger bar, said band gripping portion being equipped with a compound curvature so as to hold a plurality of projectile bands in position to be selectively released free of the barrel at different positions of the trigger bar.

2. In a toy rearm i'or shooting rubber bands having a barrel simulating portion and a handle simulating portion wherein at least two rubber bands Contact the muzzle of the barrel at one end and a trigger bar at the other end with intermediate portions of the band freely embracing the sides of the barrel between the trigger bar and the muzzle of the barrel; the combination with the aforesaid elements of a single elongated trigger bar mounted for limited oscillating movement on a fixed axis in the rear portion of the barrel, a portion of the trigger bar extending above and below the barrel to form respectively a band gripping portion and a trigger portion, means carried by the barrel and engaging the bar for exerting continuous tension on the bar in one direction in opposition to the 

